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DTU exams start today amid tight security
Gang trading in stolen mobile phones busted
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Beggars to go by Games, HC told
Congress opposes sealing drive
Companies get MCD notice to remove illegal ads
Board exam jitters: Youth helpline rings non-stop
4 shooters held
Manipuri girl molested by neighbour
in Munirka
Land Compensation
Lok Dal to oppose land acquisition law
NGO to help students prepare for
IAS exams
Woman held for jewellery thefts
Ex-servicemen protest
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DTU exams start today amid tight security
New Delhi, March 14 In yet another appeal issued by the DTU vice-chancellor P.B.Sharma today, the college administration has assured that no one would force anyone to appear in exams nor would anyone be allowed to stop any student from appearing in the examinations. The DTU administration has also ensured that full security would be ensured on campus during exams. “Besides the regular preparation of question papers, police security has been called to protect students appearing for the exams,” said Rashmi Sablania, spokesperson, DTU. Speaking to The Tribune, she said the university administration would not hold re-examinations for the students who decide to boycott these exams. On the other hand, the students have claimed that more than 95 per cent students have decided to stay away from the mid-term exams on the call of the DTU Students’ Association. At a demonstration at the India Gate today, the students reiterated that they wanted the vice-chancellor to go and that the students’ leaders would not enter into any negotiations with P.B.Sharma. “It is because of the present vice-chancellor that the crisis has arisen. We would not enter into any talks with the administration so long as he is there,” said Ravi Shekhar, president, DTU Students’ Association. He said maximum faculty and students of the DTU were unhappy that the DCE has been converted into a state university and all the students were in favour of boycotting the exams. The students have called for yet another protest on campus tomorrow. |
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Gang trading in stolen mobile phones busted
New Delhi, March 14 Eighty mobile phones, two laptops and a camera were recovered from them. According to H.G.S. Dhaliwal, DCP (south), the accused would buy stolen mobile phones in India and dispose them of in Nepal and Bangladesh. The arrests came after investigators found that in many cases, the IMEIs of stolen mobile phones were not activated in the mobile network of Indian cellular companies. “It came to our notice that either the IMIEs of the stolen mobiles have been changed or the same have been sold to gangs operating in bordering countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. We received an input about Mahajan’s gang and caught him yesterday from near PVR, Saket,” Dhaliwal said. The accused told the police that they used to purchase stolen phones, laptops and other valuable articles like handy camera and digital cameras from their Indian sources at very cheap rates and sell the same in Nepali markets at higher rates. As the accused were well-aware of the fact that the law enforcing agencies would not track the mobile phones operating in Nepal, they chose to dispose of the stolen mobile phones there. It was Devika who used to carry stolen phones and other items to Nepal because usually police hardly checked women. The gang used to take shelter in Nepali and Tibetans localities so that they could hide themselves. “The gang used to send small consignment through airways and for big consignments, they preferred trains,” said Dhaliwal. According to the police, Mahajan used to visit India to buy garments for his shop in Kathmandu where he came in contact with one Liyakat Ali Malik who used to sell mobile phones on Karol Bagh footpaths. “Thereafter, he started buying stolen mobile phones from Malik and sold the same in Nepal. Initially, he crossed the border by roads, but after Grish and Daviki joined the gang, they started traveling by air. While going to Nepal after buying stolen phones and laptops in India, they used to hide them in between the clothes in their suitcases,” Dhaiwal said. |
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Beggars to go by Games, HC told
New Delhi, March 14 In an affidavit filed earlier this week, the government informed a division bench of Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Manmohan Singh that it had written letters to 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, to take back beggars from their states. According to the social welfare department, the maximum number of people begging on Delhi roads is from Uttar Pradesh with 27 per cent, followed by Bihar that accounts for 17 per cent. West Bengal comes third with 5.72 per cent and Haryana accounts for 5.17 per cent. The reason these people throng the Delhi roads is that begging in the capital city is more profitable compared to other cities, says a survey by the social welfare department. Despite conducting an anti-begging drive, the government had failed to make Delhi streets free of beggars. The Delhi High Court had earlier ruled that beggars should be rehabilitated in their native places in coordination with the Delhi government and various states. The government also runs mobile courts for this purpose. These vans catch beggars and present them before the court, and subsequently they are sent to their respective states. According to the latest data available, 242 beggars were taken in by the mobile court and 122 were later released. The court was hearing a public interest petition of social activist Harsh Mander, who said that begging should be de-criminalised. “If a person is destitute and begs for living, such a person cannot be treated as a criminal. He cannot be arrested or sentenced,” he said in his petition. He also challenged the constitutional validity of the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act. Senior advocate, Colin Gonsalves, arguing on behalf of Mander, said: “We are protesting against the unconstitutionality of the present act that says begging is a crime.” On this the bench said: “You are seeing only one side .” The court asked the government to file its response by August 9 as to what it was doing to amend the present anti-begging act.
— IANS |
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Time to stop pigging out in DU, JNU
Delhi University is hosting the Commonwealth Games players and authorities are working harder than ever before to get as many rooms vacated for the guests as possible while cops are frequently knocking on the doors of JNU hostels looking for suspect naxalites and their
sympathisers. Ray of hope for Asha Kiran
As young inmates of Asha Kiran, a home for the mentally challenged, continue to meet untimely deaths due to its horrid living conditions and, of course, government's callousness, the issue has of late pitted Delhi government ministers against one another. Last week, finance minister AK Walia visited the home and had no qualms in deploring the living conditions there. He said it was understaffed and many inmates were so weak that they found it hard even to wear their clothes and eat meals and needed help for most mundane jobs. He quickly added that he had visited the place in his capacity as a physician, well aware that his colleague, social welfare minister Mangar Ram Singhal, who is responsible for Asha Kiran's conditions, could take offence at his not-so-charitable observations. Walia said he had also taken Singhal's permission for the visit. Singhal's aides say that stopping Walia would have invited only negative publicity. Fennell's political correctness
A few months ago, Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell had a massive clash with CWG's organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi when he did some straight talk over Delhi's evident lack of preparedness for the October games. However, Fennell seems to have learnt his lesson. During his visit last week, he was careful not to tread on anybody's toes. "We have reports from all the departments and we are satisfied with the work," he said but did not forget to add in the same vein that "I would like to issue a warning that there is still a long way to go". More importantly, though, he ensured that Kalmadi's brittle ego is not bruised. He followed up this statement by showering Kalmadi with praise for all the good work "he and his team are doing". Not so godly, these men
The unearthing of escapades of our godmen, including one in Delhi, who ran a high profile prostitution racket in saffron garbs, have jolted many devoted followers. When Bhimanand was produced in a local court, he met jeering crowds and sceptics among the lawyers. Mediapersons were encouraged to do sting operations on these godmen. The reality that all of our holy men are not so holy after all seems to be dawning upon many among us. Preity treasures Yuvraj
Flamboyant cricketer Yuvraj Singh may have lost the captaincy of Kings XI Punjab to Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara but he remains the most dependable player for his team owner Preity Zinta. When questioned on Yuvraj's removal, Preity, who was in Delhi last week as UNAIDS goodwill ambassador, shot back saying she was sure of fireworks from his bats this IPL season. She dismissed reports that the change of guard had created fissures in her team. "Yuvi is still the most valuable player in the team. As such there is no place for 'I and me' in the team," she said. Her team would win the tourney this time and Yuvraj would play a pivotal role, she added. Even if there was trouble in her team, she managed to hide it very well, all thanks to her training as an
actor. (Contributed by Akhila Singh, Syed Ali Ahmed, Himani Chandel, Rashi Agarwal, Ananya Panda) |
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Congress opposes sealing drive
New Delhi, March 14 Leader of Opposition in MCD, Jai Kishan Sharma, said that about 50,000 shopkeepers on 2,538 notified commercial and mixed land use roads had not deposited conversion charges and feared sealing. “On March 5, the MCD sealed almost two dozen shops on Aurobindo Marg in South Delhi. MCD has so far collected Rs 759 crore as conversion charges, but nothing has been spent for the development of parking lots. This means that the only aim of the BJP-ruled MCD is to harass traders on the ground of non-payment of conversion charges. The Congress party strongly oppose the same and demand that the traders be given sufficient time for the payment of conversion charges,” said Sharma. He said that the properties which were sealed years ago have not yet been de-sealed, but the MCD has started another sealing drive. “People in every part of the city are being issued sealing notices for not depositing conversion charges. Delhiites are living under the threat of sealing,” he said. “Three years back, when the BJP was not in power, it felt the problems of the citizens and initiated a “jail bharo movement” to oppose sealing and demolition. But now, when it is in power, it has no feelings for the poor. If the BJP is really concerned about the people, it can give people sufficient time to deposit the conversion charges,” added Sharma. |
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Companies get MCD notice to remove illegal ads
New Delhi, March 14 The MCD advertisement department has so far removed more than 20,000 hoardings, banners and posters across the 12 zones in Delhi. The objective of this drive, spearheaded by municipal commissioner KS Mehra, is to beautify Delhi for the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG). “Our purpose is to remove those hoardings which are illegally displayed across the city, and where the companies have not taken permission from the MCD to display these ads,” said a senior MCD official. He said that the companies are informed before taking action. The new advertisement policy framed in 2008 states that any hoarding or advertisement has to be registered first. The municipal officers said that they have warned time and again that if companies fail to comply with the notices issued, complaints would be lodged against their chairman, chief managing director or senior functionaries. “The Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 2007 had come into force on March 1, 2009,” said the officer. According to a recent circular issued by the MCD, fines will be imposed on all the unauthorised outdoor displays, where the advertising agency and the owner of the property are known. The fines will be imposed on both the ad agency and the media owner. |
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Board exam jitters: Youth helpline rings non-stop
New Delhi, March 14 “There has been a sharp rise in the number of distress calls that we have been getting from students in need of counselling these days. This is mainly because of the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) board exams that are on,” said Manju Kumar, consultant at the Yuva counselling helpline centre in Defence Colony. “Last week we received three calls on one day from students who were so depressed that they wanted to commit suicide. It took us almost three hours of counselling and then calling back after some time to ensure that they were fine and in a better state of mind,” Kumar said. All three, Kumar said, were students of Class XII who couldn’t perform well in their business studies exam. Two of them were girls. “It shocks you at times...the kind of calls that come. Children are so much under strain because of exams; then there is peer pressure and parental pressure. We get 80-100 calls every day and most of them are from students at a loss on how to deal with the pressure of exams,” she said. While the toll free helpline (1800116888) is functional the whole year around, it’s during the Class X and XII examination period - February and March - and during the admission time in Delhi University - around June - when the calls start pouring in again. Poonam Gupta, one of the counsellors, said that besides students, teachers and parents also call up for help. “At times parents call us for advice on how to make their kids study and help them be more competitive. Yesterday, I got a call from a parent asking how to make her 10-year-old child study. Even teachers call us, asking us how to help their students deal with examination jitters,” said Gupta. The helpline, which is functional from 7.30 am to 7 pm everyday, has just six counsellors working on a rotation basis in morning and afternoon shifts. All counsellors - most of who are women - are professionally trained in
counselling. — IANS |
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4 shooters held
New Delhi, March 14 According to police, Vikram, alias Paras (25), Ashok (25), Lalit and Pramod were apprehended from Nangal Dewat village near Mahipalpur yesterday when they were on their way to Gurgaon. According to H G S Dhaliwal, DCP (south), the arrested have committed crimes in Haryana, Delhi and Punjab. “Their fifth accomplice Manish was injured in an accident when the gang was returning from Meerut after killing and dumping a person belonging
to the Bawana area in Delhi. The injured accused is admitted to Jaipur Golden Hospital,” said Dhaliwal adding that the victim Raj Kumar’s body was fished out of Gang Canal later. The gang had also robbed a car a month ago at gunpoint from Nangloi. Around one and a half months ago, Vikram along with his accomplices Balraj and Gora had got their associate Gurpreet freed from the police team of Haryana near Giddad Baha in Bhatinda. |
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Manipuri girl molested by neighbour
in Munirka
New Delhi, March 14 “The victim was on her way to bus stop when a man living in her neighbourhood in Munirka molested her. However, when she shouted for help, people accosted the accused and after severe beating, handed him over to the police,” said a Vasant Vihar police station official, adding that a case has been registered. According to information provided by Madhu Chandra of the North East Support Centre, a help centre for the youth of northeast living in Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region), the victim stays with her sister in a rented accommodation in Munirka for the past six years. “She picks up her sister daily from Munirka bus stop around the same time. On Saturday night, she was molested by a man. However, the accused was caught by people and handed over to the police,” said
Chandra. |
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Land Compensation
Greater Noida, March 14 The GNIDA acquired land in Thiroda village in 2000. Farmers were given 80 per cent of the land compensation. But two dozen farmers have not yet been paid the remaining 20 per cent of the compensation amount. For 10 long years, the distressed farmers have been making trips to the office of the additional district magistrate (LA), but to no avail. Last year, the hapless farmers moved the high court, which directed GNIDA to pay the balance compensation along with 15 per cent interest to the affected farmers. But since the farmers were not paid compensation within the set timeframe, they again approached the court. Sachin Bhatti, secretary, Kisan Vikas Samiti, said in spite of court orders the farmers were not paid their dues, while the land in question had been taken over by GNIDA and allotted to some other organisations. This is injustice to farmers. Meanwhile, sources in GNIDA say the authority has appealed against the decision of the high court. |
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Lok Dal to oppose land acquisition law
Ghaziabad, March 14 Ajit Singh criticized the central and BSP governments in UP for their policies on issues like sugarcane prices, fertilizer subsidy, diesel and petrol price rise, relaxation in income tax for big businessmen while making it hard for small traders. He was cheered by the large gathering of farmers, farm workers and small traders whenever he raised his voice against polices of state and central governments. The Rashtriya Lok Dal supremo said no other party has shown the same concern for farmers as the Lok Dal has done over the years. The centre had to take back the black law on sugarcane prices in view of the unity of farmers. Ajit Singh called land acquisition law draconian. The Lok Dal will launch an agitation against this law also, he said. |
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NGO to help students prepare for
IAS exams
Noida, March 14 Chairman of the Gurmat Prachar Trust, a voluntary institute devoted to the promotion of Sikh values, Maj. Gen. (retd) I.S. Sethi said the intake of students from the states in northwest India in civil and defence services has declined over the years. The trust has decided to help brilliant students from poor families to appear in the competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. The young students will be selected on the basis of their academic results, percentage of marks obtained and the financial position of their families. The monthly income of candidates’ family, it has been decided, should not exceed Rs 20,000, Sethi said. To start with, selected candidates will shortly be sponsored in reputed coaching centres for the next civil and defence services examinations. The trust also plans to provide these facilities to students in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, etc. Interested students can refer to web site: www.youngsikhleaders.org for details. |
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Woman held for jewellery thefts
Ghaziabad, March 14 The duo was identified as Babli Shahnaaz, alias Bano, 42, and her brother-in-law Sajid Ali, 30. Senior superintendent of police Raghuvir Lal said: “Sajid and Shahnaaz struck at high-end jewellery outlets and mostly operated as a couple.” On February 14, the couple struck at the jewellery store owned by Ghaziabad Mayor Damyanti Goel’s daughter Himadri Agarwal at the busy Ambedkar Road. They had also stolen a gold chain on February 8 from another jewellery showroom at MMX Mall in Sahibabad, the police
said. — IANS |
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Ex-servicemen protest
New Delhi, March 14 According to information, former personnel from all the three defence forces held the protest after the government failed to meet their demands. “It is a shame for the country that soldiers have to return their gallantry awards and meritorious medals and come to streets for their demands,” said Jaiveer Singh Tyagi, a retired air force person, adding that the government has failed to take care of ex-servicemen.
— TNS
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It is not uncommon to find many senior students staying in Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) hostels even after they have ceased to be students. DU hostels like Mansarovar, Gwyer Hall and PG Men are infamous for such students who are called "pests" in local parlance for obvious reasons. Similarly, JNU hostels is full of residents who are not enrolled in the university but fatten themselves on its subsidised food, grocery and other facilities. Here, they are called "PIGS (Permanent Illegal Guests)". But it now seems that their time may be up.